Day: June 21, 2015

Title:Grey

Series: Fifty Shades #4

Author:E L James

Released:18th June, 2015

Paper back publisher: Vintage Anchor Books

Digital Publisher:Cornerstone Digital

Genre:Contemporary Erotic Romance

Age: Mature Adult

Christian Grey exercises control in all things; his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty—until the day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of shapely limbs and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, but instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot comprehend and cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before, shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him—past the business prodigy and the penthouse lifestyle to Christian’s cold, wounded heart.

Will being with Ana dispel the horrors of his childhood that haunt Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, and the self-loathing that fills his soul drive this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?

I’m sure you’ve all read FSOG, FSD and FSF. Otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this review, would you? Nevertheless, for those of you that are hemming or hawing about whether or not to one-click, the essence and thoughts of one of the most desired book lovers since Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice or Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, is in present day, Grey. I would never endeavour to compare Christian with these classic characters. Far from it; however, I’m simply stating an actual fact. James’ books took the book world by storm and broke boundaries; book virgins succumbed to her devilish penmanship which left us in awe! Us ladies thanked her for “letting the cat out of the bag” and wondered how on earth we’d managed to get by since the subject seemed to be such a taboo one. Up until, of course, her liberating first publication! By breaking down these boundaries, she’d indirectly done so many of us a huge favour. How many authors have sprung up; henceforth offering us outstanding reads? Becoming successful writers regardless of whether or not their books were or still are being self-published, simply means they have the guts to take the plunge and have enough confidence to do so. And for those few lucky authors that now have a publisher, does actually enter into the equation, because there is a before and after.

How many of you have read the above mentioned books twice, too? And I’m absolutely sure that if you did, it was just before the movie was released. Demand for Christian’s point of view was rife and the author has given us exactly what we’d asked for. So folks, this is my honest and down to earth opinion about Grey. My candid viewpoint regarding the author’s writing, too.

I would be fibbing if I didn’t admit to having doubts about Grey’s stance in the first half of the book. Only my buddy reader’s advice who was one step ahead of me, seemed to slow and calm me down, make me savour this read more. Text messages flew quicker than you can say Bob’s your uncle and I am forever grateful for her patience. I can honestly say that this read is a fan-freakin’-tastic one, and I really did enjoy it more than the first three books. It’s more refined, more polished and the more I advanced, the more I loved it. Mundane chores were literally put on standby. And all these goings on were pm’d to Rachel. Forever unbiased regarding books.

Christian. Humph! He does repeat himself a tad but I really think he’s trying to convince himself that his relationship with Anastasia, for want of a better word, could work. He suffers so damn much that you have to have a heart made of stone for his feelings not to affect you.

Christian: ~ “Oh baby, don’t give up on me. Give it a try.”

In fact, I wasn’t so worried about Ana as she was always given a choice. She wants what he can’t give her, he wants what she can’t give him. And here we have a catch twenty-two situation. What I adored more than anything was the spunky banter between the two of them. At times, the emails fly between them like grease lightening; Ana always revealing her innermost feelings. Since confessing them face to face with Christian could perhaps be the cause for his ire, she’s wisely treads softly by texting him. Softly but with humour and innuendos that left me grinning from ear to ear.

Ana: ~ “I don’t remember reading about nipple clamps in the Bible. Perhaps you were taught from a modern translation.”

She is a dilemma. She is like nothing he has ever encountered and his confusion is therefore ten-fold. Although he wants her absolute submission, it takes time for him to admit to himself that just maybe Ana won’t be that woman. You know his wants are to say the least, “particular”. Nevertheless, when the crux of the matter is presented on a silver plate, he oversteps the mark resulting in an omnishambles because deep down, he thought she was his to have.

Christian ~ “Anastasia, you should steer clear of me. I’m not the man for you.”

The author’s descriptive writing is nothing less than awesome. Her characters’ personalities come alive so much more than in her previous books. And to say all their physical appearances are vividly portrayed would be putting it mildly. I didn’t see Jamie or Dakota either. I saw Christian and Anastasia.

Christian: ~ “Do I dare to hope ? Damn it. Yes, I do.”

Two beautiful people trying their hardest to reach each other’s souls; reach a happy medium. Now then, the bedroom scenes! Did I say bedroom? Well, they may not be doing what two lovers do in the most conventional of places but that is neither here nor there as they are hot, hot, scorching hot and I can’t remember getting my knickers in such a twist in FSOG? No…I truly can’t! And below is our reaction after reading the last two lines in Grey.

(Smiley winking at me which I could have gladly punched in the face!)

Sharon texting Rachel: Double fuck!

Rachel texting Sharon: She has to write Darker from his POV! Be fab as Leila comes into that one.

Sharon texting Rachel: Thank god for that! Yeah, she’s been very canny with the ending.

The reason I got myself so wound up towards the finale; and I do admit to loving an ending that makes me want to vent my frustrations, was the unexpected cliffy. “Unexpected you say?” “But we all know the story!” I hadn’t, for one minute, done my calculations correctly. Finishing where it did and how it did, knocked me backwards. That last three-quarters of an hour’s read sold me! I liked Grey beyond words Ms. James. So one word from a humble reviewer who was itching to get her thoughts on paper as soon as she’d finished texting her buddy reader… BRAVO!

Fav quote.

I’m a former TV executive, wife and mother-of-two based in the leafy suburbs of West London. Since January 2012 my life has taken an extraordinary turn with the runaway success of the Fifty Shades Trilogy. From an early age I had always dreamt of writing stories that readers would fall in love with – and my dreams have come true, thanks to you guys. Now that life seems to have settled down a little, I want to crack on and write my next novel – another adult, provocative romance. I do hope you will enjoy that too.

Thank you for all your support. It has meant the world to me. If any one were to ask me for my thoughts about this whole experience, I would say: life is not a dress rehearsal – seize the day and follow your dreams. I wish you the best of luck.